Mail-bag clamp



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheeti.

P. WERUM.

MAIL BAG CLAMP.

No. 358,905. Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

' awvamtoz 6% $313 elf/ 207 140,136

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILLIP \VERUM, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

MAIL-BAG CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming, part of Letters Patent No. 358,905, dated March 8, 1887.

Application filed May 28, 1886. Serial No. 203,539. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILLIP VVERUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to clamps for mailbags, having for its object the provision of an article which shall be simple and durable in construction, cheap of manufacture, and effective in operation; and to these ends the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement. of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figurel is a side elevation ofa clamp embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom view. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sec tion. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a modified form ofcam-bar; and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 areside elevation, longitudinal central section, and bottom views, respectively, of a modified form.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the base-plate, the edges to of which are bent downwardly and inwardly to clinch another plate, B, which is arranged a short distance away from the plate A, as at I), to form a recess for the insertion of a tag. said plate being pro vided with a rectangular opening, I), for the observation of said tag.

0 designates awedge-bar having the thumbpiece ('2 and serrated wedges c c", the latter arranged on opposite sides of the thumbpiece c. This wedge-bar is guided by keepers D-D, each of which is inclined on a plane parallel with the wedges.

Through the plate A, and just under the keeper D and wedge 0 is a slot in which works a third wedge, 0 formed upon the under side of the wedge-bar C, for the purpose of binding the tag tightly against the inner side of the plate B, and thereby prevent it from slipping out.

The operation of my device I will now describe. To close and clamp the bag the drawing-cord is pulled as tight as possible, the clamp is then slid along the cord until it touches the bag, when the bar is shot forward by means of the thumb-piece 0, whereby the wedges c c" are caused to engage with the cord and the wedge c with the tag, which has previously been slippedin place, thereby securely holding the bag against accidental opening,&c.

I do not limit myself to the exact form and proportion of parts herein shown and described, as I may, instead of using the wedge c to secure the tag, employ a rib, as 0*, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, which, when the wedge-bar engages with the cord, willbe sprung downward and securely bind the tag against the sides of the elongated opening in the bottom plate. I may also use, if desirable, a spring, as shown in Fig. 5, in lieu of the tag securing wedges.

Vhat I claim is 1. In a cord-clamp and tag-holder, the combination, with a base and keepers arranged at opposite ends thereof, of a sliding bar having wedges at its opposite ends,and a thumb-piece secured to the bar between said wedges.

2. In a cord-clamp and tag-holder, the combination, with base, keepers, and a sliding bar provided with wedges at opposite ends thereof and a central thumb-piece, of a tag retaining plate having an opening in its face.

3. In a cord-clamp and tag-holder, the combination,with a base, and a tag-retaining plate having an opening in its face, of the sliding bar carrying a wedge at each end, a thumbpiece, and a wedge which operates through a slot in said base, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a cord-clamp and tag-holder, the combination, with a slotted base having a sliding bar provided with a rib which projects through the slot in the said base, of keepers,as D D, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILLIP WERUM.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM E. CoLn, E. D. MOORE. 

